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Comment by smegel | Hacker News Reader

As someone who has never used Facebook, I often feel like I am talking to members of some sinister cult when I meet someone who asks me about Facebook and I say I don't use it. The surprise and weird eyes they give me really unnerves me, it's not just a website to some people, it has become a integral part of their life and has seeped into their mind.

It has gotten to the point that I am deliberately rude about it, feigning complete ignorance and saying things like "what's that, one of those stupid social networks?" or "why would anyone want to use that?" -- in the hope I momentarily shock them out of their brainwashed state into a moment of clarity where they realize not everyone is a member of this virtual cult.

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Look, people are surprised because Facebook has become an integral way to communicate with someone whether it be via chat with messenger or as a broadcast message via a newsfeed post.

Internalize this: Facebook has become as integral to communication as having a cell phone was in the last decade. If you met someone who didn't have a cell phone today (whether it be a smartphone or otherwise), wouldn't you be surprised? That's the same surprise people are giving you.

That's their perspective and it's not unreasonable.

Cell phones didn't introduce a whole new human activity. At the end of the day, you were still just having a phone conversation with someone - it was just easier and more convenient way to do something people were already doing.

Facebook is a whole new activity that never really existed before, it's much more than just "communication". It seems more about following other peoples lives in a rather obsessive and voyeuristic way (and broadcasting your own), and has this "club" or "cult" feeling about it.

If someone told me they didn't have a cellphone, yes I would be surprised, but more like "how do you get by?" rather than "who is this suspicious outsider?".

> Cell phones didn't introduce a whole new human activity.

Wherever you are, if you are not at home, look around you and tell me that cellphones didn't introduce a whole new human activity.

> Cell phones didn't introduce a whole new human activity.

Text messaging.

I would even call it an integral way of participating in society - controlled by a corporation that acts in the interest of it's shareholders. That is my main gripe with it.

I have missed out in a lot of things by not "being used" (in the spirit of the discussion) by facebook, buy I still think you have to be a special kind of crazy to use it.

hey askafriend, is there a way to reach you in any way? I would love to talk to you more regarding your comment on linkedin last time. You can reach out to me by email that's listed in my profile.

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